Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOC

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains is a "Appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC) for wine from the region of Burgundy in France. Most Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains, which is sometimes written unhyphenated, as Bourgogne Passetoutgrains, is red although rosé wine may also be produced. Unlike other Burgundy wines, which are primarily produced from a single grape variety, Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains is a essentially a cuvée of Gamay and Pinot Noir. It is considered to be a uncomplicated, fruity wine intended to be consumed young.

History

The Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains became a regional AOC on 31 July 1937.

Region of production

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains is allowed to be produced in the entire area which can use the basic Bourgogne appellation. [http://www.inao.gouv.fr/public/produits/showTexte.php?comiteNat=1&id_txt=913 INAO: Appellation rules for Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains, updated until January 14, 2007] fr icon] This means 91 communes from the department of Côte d'Or, 85 communes of Rhône (not to be confused with the wine region Rhône), 154 communes of Saône et Loire region and 54 communes of Yonne.

Since Côte d'Or and Yonne have very little Gamay, most Passe-Tout-Grains are produced from grapes grown in Saône et Loire (essentially the Côte Chalonnaise subregion of Burgundy), where Gamay makes up almost half of the red grapes. [ [http://www.burgundy-wines.fr/index.php?p=226&art_id=175 Burgundy Wines: The Gamay grape] , accessed June 18, 2008]

Grape varieties

Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains must contain at least one third Pinot varieties, with the rest Gamay. Pinot primarily means Pinot Noir, but Pinot Liébault (which may either be considered as a clone of Pinot Noir or as a separate variety) is also allowed. Furthermore, it is allowed to blend in up to 15% of the white varieties Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Since Passe-Tout-Grains is generally a simple, rather cheap wine, and the lower market price of Gamay grapes in comparison to the much sought-after Pinot Noir, most Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains will contain the maximum proportion of Gamay allowed under the AOC rules, two thirds.

Wine

The Pinot and Gamay are fermented together. This process starts with a carbonic maceration and continues with a traditional fermentation. The wine is usually released young, and shows little aging potential. It is recommended that it is drunk within 2-3 years, and the ideal serving temperature is 16 Celsius.

References

ee also

*Burgundy wine